Vegetable hydrator



Aug. l1, 1936. J. o. MATTEsoN ET A| 2,050,353

VEGE`TABLE HYDRATOR Filed March 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ff-Eefgnnndnnem/Vg PER 5 Aug. l1, 1936. J. o. MATTEsoN ET Al. 2,050,353

VEGETABLE HYDRATOR Filed March 31,' 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 fl; V

52 '53 FIG? 4 n 55550. MATH-mf Patented Aug. 11,l 19u36 PATENT OFFICEaoasss vEGE'iABLE miraron Jesse o. Matteson, Muskegon Mien., and nebenH. Guyton, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Brunswck-Balke-CollenderCompany, C -V cago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application March31, 1934, Serial No. 718,484'

1l Claim.

This invention 'relates to improvements in vegetable hydrators and hasfor one of its principal objects the provision of a new means and methodof handling vegetables in a cooling cabinet where other foods are alsostored.

One of the important objects of this invention is to providev means forboth cooling and hydrating vegetables and other food products prefer-Aably in conjunction with the usual refrigerating apparatus, or, ifdesired, as-a separate apparatus, which shall retain vegetablesandsimilar food products in a fresh and moist state for a considerablylonger time than has heretofore been considered possible. l5

the provision of means whereby food products or the like are maintainedat all times in an atmosphere of desired temperature and humiditywhereby the keeping and other similar qualities of such food and otherproducts is considerably enhanced. y

Another and still further object is the previsione of means, in eitheropen or closed compartments,

lated amount is sprayed or otherwise applied to fresh vegetables or`similar food products -to keep the same in a fresh and attractivecondition while at the same time allowing the display` of same tocustomers, if such display is desired. A

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the. accompanying drawings and followingspecification. g

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated `in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described. y j

In the drawingsi L Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of theimproved vegetable hydrator of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view somewhat similar to'that inFigure 1, 'showing a modi- I l f l a desired temperature, onto thevegetables or fled form of the invention. 'f

Figure 4i11ustrates e. further mogipcanon er the invention applied toadisplay cabinet.

, Figure 5 illustrates the invention as used'in connection with anopen', or 'partially open, display case.

As shown inthe drawings- '56 The reference numeral III indicatesgenerally a an ordinary refrigerator casing, having the usual door I2and refrigerating coils I4. Heretofore such -a refrigeratingf apparatushas been commonly used in grocery stores andthe like for theindiscriminate storage and handling therein ofA Another important objectof the invention is whereby water of a desired temperature andreguamount of water flowing through the cooler 22 practically allperishable foods as are ordinarily handled in a grocery -store orsimilar business. It has been found by experience that fresh vegetables,particularly, are subject to wilting on account of the .fact that therefrigerating appara- 5 tus itself has a tendency to dehydrate materialsin the refrigerator, this moisture finally condensadditionalcompartment, preferably having walls of metal or the like, as shown atI6, is placed in l5 the large refrigerator I0, preferably atone end orside thereof and with a separate entrance door, as shown at I6. 'Ihiscompartment AI6 is closed off from the remainder of` the refrigeratorIII in a fairly air-tight manner,J and is provided with a plurality ofopen wire shelves or the like 20, asV best shown in Figures 1 and 2,upon which vegetables or the like may be conveniently stored.

.Mounted 4in the compartment I6 is an automatic liquid cooling apparatus22, of which there are Vseveral'types now; on the market and which aredesigned for` the purpose of cooling water orother liquid to a desiredtemperature, either for continual or-intermittent flow. Such a cooler 22can be designed to operate oi! the compressor ordinarily used inmechanical refrigeration such as that employed in connection with thecoils Il, or may have a separate compressor if desired.

`The usual intake and outlet pipes 24 and 26 are provided for thepassage of refrigerant to'and 35' from the cooler 22, and a ,furtherinlet pipe 28 for wateris of course employed; Thiswater pipe otherproducts stored on the shelves 20. The

may be regulated asv desired or convenient,'and

lthe temperature may also be quite accurately controlled by means of theautomatic operation of ,the cooler. Suitable drains 34, 36, etc., are'provided for the purpose of carrying oi! waste water from any and' allof the refrigerator cornpartments. In Figure 3-is shown a slightmodification of ythe invention, wherein an additional compartment,provided with a further door Il, is built into 55 i the refrigerator Il,this being^ pro'viied with a special type of combination cooler andrefrig- `erating apparatus, as shown at 4l.

In addition to cooling spray water which is adapted to *be deliveredonto products stored on the shelves 42, the apparatus 4B also operatesi,`

refrigerating coil 44, by means of which the temperature in ,the chambermay be brought down.

l over the surfaces of theiish or similar products.

Water, therefore, of the desired temperature and sufficient amount isfirst sprayed onto the products on the shelves 42, after which thetemperature in the chamber is brought down to below freezing by means ofthe coil/44, whereupon the desired result is accomplished. Suchintermittent spraying and freezing operations can be accomplished eithermanually or automatically, as desired or convenient. A suitable drain 46is also provided for this chamber.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a display cabinet 48, preferably having atransparent front composed of two or more thicknesses of glass or thelike It, and provided with suitable shelvesvor the like 52 upon whichvegetables or other food products may be stored, or displayed. Thecabinet contains a combination water cooling and spraying apparatus54-56 and the spraying apparatus is provided with one spray outlet 68closely adjacent the upper portion of the glass plates 50, whereby waterpassing through the equipment will be directed onto the inner face ofthe glass and will accordingly run down the same, keeping it free fromcondensed moisture and allowing of a fairly good condition of visibilityat' all times. 'I'he usual door 60 is provided for access, and anysuitable type of drain 62 is incorporatedintothe cabinet. Y

In Figure 5 is shown a further modification ,of the invention, wherein acabinet, open at the *mounted in-the lower portion of the cabinet. and

by means of which water ofa suitable temperature and desired amount 'isallowed to spray upon .the products on the shelves A suitabledraintilted shelf 'et and the horizontal shelf u byit means ofa door orthe like 8i.

It will be seen that herein is provided a new method of handlingvegetables and similar Ifood products in a cooling cabinet which is moreo r less supplemental to the usual refrigerator con- 20 struction andwhich can be build into such a refrigerator at ycomparatively smalladditional cost, both in new and kold constructions. The combination ofdesired temperature and humidity will eifectively succeed in preservinvegetables and the like for considerabl longer periods than hasheretofore been considered possible, and the undesirable drying-out andwilting of such products is definitely overcome. The

use or e. display cabinet which also embodies this 30 feature isafurther obviously definite advantage. We are aware that many changesmay be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout awide range without departing from the' principles of this invention, andwe there- 35 oe do not purpose limiting the patent granted thereonotherwise than as necessitated, by the Vprior art. f i

`.We claim as our invention- A display container for fresh foodproducts. comprising a cabinet, glass faces in the cabinet, grilledshelves in the cabinet forthe placing of foods to be displayed thereon,combined humidifying and refrigerating means in the cabinet. said meansincluding a cooling apparatus for lowering the temperature' in thecabinet and for also cooling water to be used in the humidifyingoperation, together with spray means for delivering said cooled waterthroughout the cabinet, and means for preserving the transparency of theglass fronts, said means comprising a pipe adapted todeliver a portionof the spray water onto the inner faces of the glass.

JESSE O. MATTESON. ROBERT H. GUYTON.

fresh 25

